Over the last few years, Atlus has been posting and sending fan surveys out to players about what they want next from their favorite franchises. Many of the survey’s questions typically ask what systems players use primarily, how they feel about spin-off games, general questions like that. One question in particular asks fans about the interest in remakes and remasters for franchises likeShin Megami TenseiandPersona.
Now that survey seems to have lead to theShin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturneremaster coming early next year, along withShin Megami Tensei 5. With Atlus portingPersona 4 Goldenand nowNocturnereceiving a remaster, it’s a good sign that more older Atlus titles could receive remasters or re-release in the near future. Considering how fans have been asking for remasters of oldPersonagames for a while, this makes aPersona 3remaster far more likely.
Fans' Interest in Classic Persona Games
This is partially due toPersona’s now massive popularity and success in the west and around the world. Even thoughPersona 4 Goldenwas also quite popular on the PlayStation Vita back in 2012,Personawas still considered a niche JRPG compared to titles likeFinal FantasyorDragon Quest. Not to mention the Vita was a niche console to own in general.It wasn’t untilPersona 5was so well received by both new fans and critics alikewhen thePersonaseries really started to gain traction. While many would considerPersona 5as one of the best JRPGs of all time, even without playing the previous games, the fifth entry contributed to the mainstream acclaim ofPersonaaround the world.
Earlier this year, a social media campaign fromPersonafans wastrending on Twitter for a potentialPersona 3re-release. There wasn’t a particular consensus on a remake, remaster, or just plain re-release. Fans simply wanted the opportunity to play the game again, or affordably play the game for the first time without having to source a PS2 or PSP with a copy of the game. Now that more players are familiar with what the series is like, new fans are interested in turning back to the franchise’s past. Because the older titles were released on older hardware, it’s become harder to play classicPersonagames.
Persona 4 Golden on PC Was the First Step
At least, that used to be the case. Atlus had never really ported or remastered many games to other platforms. Granted Atlus was going through some financial issues a few years ago with its parent company Index going through bankruptcy. Since 2013, Atlus' various studios have been on good footingthanks to Sega acquiring Index and the rights to franchises likePersona. While this was going on in the background, many fans never figured older games would be ported or remastered to newer systems. ThenCatherineand eventuallyPersona 4 Goldenwere ported to PC.
As mentioned earlier,Persona 4 Goldenwas initially only released on the PS Vita way back in 2012. While the game saw nominal success on the handheld platform, theGoldenversion of the game was never released on any other platform. At least, until earlier this year when Atlus portedPersona 4 Goldento PC via Steam.This was a huge moment for Atlus andPersona, not only because it was the first time a mainlinePersonagame was released on something other than a PlayStation console, but because Atlus' was finally acting on the information fans inputted on their surveys.Persona’s publisher likely recognized that there’s success to be had on other platforms, especially with its legacy titles that haven’t been around in a while.
RELATED:Persona 4 Golden on PC Could Encourage More Down the Line
Why Nocturne’s Remaster is Another Good Sign
Now grantedShin Megami Tensei: Nocturneis not aPersonagame, but it’s an Atlus game from 2004 that’s receiving a remaster. That’s a huge sign that Atlus is not averse to bringing older titles back to newer platforms for fans. ArguablyShin Megami Tensei: Nocturneis a much more niche game compared toPersona 3, just based on the commercial success of both games.Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturnequickly became a cult classic JRPG for hardcoreMegami Tenseifans, especially in the west. If an Atlus game likeNocturnecan get an HD remaster with a worldwide release, then a potentialPersona 3remaster doesn’t seem too far fetched at this point.
Plus given the massive fan interest for aPersona 3re-release of some kind, it almost seems like a no-brainer to remaster or port the game. Atlus and Sega have proven both companies are not averse to re-releasing classic titles on modern hardware at this point, plus it can help draw attention to upcoming new projects in the series. That’s exactlywhatShin Megami Tensei: Nocturneis doing forShin Megami Tensei 5when it launches later in 2021. Granted aPersona 6release is likely quite a few years away, butNocturne’s remaster is a solid bit of evidence that furtherPersonaports (or even aPersonaremaster) may be on the way in the near future.
Persona 3originally released on PS2 in 2007.
MORE:A Persona 3 Remake Could Continue Atlus’s Success in the West
